Downhere

“Walk this life beneath the stars/Contemplate just who we are/Against the backdrop of knowing God”—from “Larger Than Life”

Young, full of wonder and idealism, but tempered with a mature faith—these are some of the qualities that distinguish the members of downhere. With music that stirs the emotions and calms the soul, this pop/rock band is driven to speak to its culture with lyrics that read like contemporary psalms—both deftly poetic and unmistakably clear.

Produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion: One Day, Watermark, Point of Grace) and the band itself, downhere’s first nationally released album features a modern rock approach that nods to the musical influences of bands as diverse as Sugar Ray, Queen, Barenaked Ladies and dc Talk. Its combination of energetic pop songs and acoustic-based ballads is rife with possibilities for hit singles on Christian radio and more importantly, the ability to impact the lives of its listeners.

Comprised of co-founders (and pastor’s kids) Jason Germain (vocals, keyboards, guitars) and Marc Martel (vocals, lead guitar), the band formed while the two were rooming together as students at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada. While there, Jason and Marc took a recording arts class together, where they learned the craft of engineering and production, and recorded a demo of their first songs while continuing in their other studies and ministry involvement. Jeremy Thiessen, an athlete and drummer also studying at Briercrest, joined them soon after, as did bassist Glenn Lavender, whom they later met in Florida at a World Vision Artist Retreat.

One of the things that makes the band ready for prime time is its experience as a live act. Last summer’s touring took them through 17 (American) states, 6 (Canadian) provinces and even into Mexico—all without a record deal. In 2000, the Prairie Music Awards (honoring bands of all genres from the central provinces of Canada) awarded the band Festival Act of the Year (over 60 bands were in the competition, only a handful of which were Christian), and Outstanding Contemporary Christian Album of the Year for their indie project released on Slyngshot Records in 1999.

Even with the band’s relentless touring, the members of downhere insist it was never their dream to sign with a major label and move to the States…let alone Nashville. Nevertheless, in the spring of 2001, they made the move to Franklin, TN to start the next phase of a work that seems to bear the fingerprints of God on it.

“We didn’t intend to pursue this as a career in the beginning. We were just writing songs and leading worship or performing wherever we could,” says Marc. Adds Jason, “We still want to be idealistic, but not naïve; willing to get hurt and take the hit for what God has called us to do.”

In an age of increasing cynicism, statements like the one above are refreshing—and are typical of their view of ministry. Despite their notable talents and many successes, the guys maintain their down-to-earth attitudes and desire to connect with people on a personal level.

“Our name downhere implies that we’re going to be real people on and off the stage—not hiding in the pastor’s study before and after the concert,” explains Glenn. “We want to hang out with people, shoot hoops with people, pray with people… and we consider all of that an act of worship.”

One of the most remarkable things about downhere is the band’s willingness to serve the local church, participating in and ministering through the already-existing ministries. Explains Jeremy, “We’re pretty flexible on the road, making a concerted effort to find out beforehand the needs of the church we’re going to be playing at in order to facilitate what’s already going on there. We’re very intentional about meeting people and praying with people before and after…”

“To the point of being uncomfortable for me,” interrupts Glenn, (with a smile). “It’s not always an easy thing to go up to a stranger and say, ‘Hi, I’m Glenn. Wanna talk?’”

“And that brings us back to the songs,” says Jason. “We want to write songs that actually inspire us and stir up our deepest convictions about who God is and how we’re going to apply that to our lives. That’s where it starts… and then as we sing these songs, we’re challenged—by the songs and even by our name itself—to do that which we’re writing about: reconciling ourselves to God first and then reconciling ourselves to one another.”

Larger than Life

Walk this life beneath the stars
Contemplate just who we are
Against the backdrop of knowing God

Seasons pass, they come and go
But one thing keeps its worth in gold
A timeless bond, sharing dreams we hold

Chorus
It’s larger than life, it’s larger than we
It’s bigger than you, it’s bigger than me
It’s larger than life

There’s something here that tells me so
I was not made to walk alone
It sharpens me to know we stand as one

Will our lives reflect the Maker
Of the sky we’re living under
It changes all to know You’re really there
When the space between us falls apart
You’re the bridge that spans our hearts

You’re larger than life, You’re larger than we
Who’s bigger than You? You’re bigger than me
You’re larger than life

Raincoat

I’m looking for a friend to hold the door
It’s cold outside when I don’t know where to find
A sheltered place secluded from the race
Of this old life

And as I walked out in the down poor with no raincoat
I was soaked down to the bone from head to toe
Without my raincoat, anywhere I may go
I still get wet somehow
I found that friend, He’s with me till the end
He’s promised me that he won’t forsake His own
And when a promise never ends
It can only mean one thing… it’s from above

Now I walk out in the down poor with my raincoat
And after all is said and done, He’s still the One
With my raincoat, anywhere I may go I know I’m all right

Breathing In

Death is no conflict, for those who do belong,
The very last life breath, starts a brand new song
Promised to find, what I’ve been looking for,
I guess then we will meet right at Heaven’s door…

Chorus
As I wander the streets of gold
Talk to all the friends I’ve known
We’ll go adore the Master King,
Then only then I’ll be breathing in.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,
When I leave this earth, I’m not coming back again
So I wear this life like a dirty coat,
Give up my tattered threads when I cross the moat.

Life has no conflict, for those who do belong,
This very moment can start whole new songs
When I pass through; die, as we all shall do,
I’m going to fall at the feet of the one who created me
and you

Only peace, no disease, no more rain, no more pain,
No more tears, no more fears…
Breathing in.

Reconcile

We’ve both been mistreated, no wish to repeat this
You’re sorry – you wonder
If ever I’ll show you grace again

My vision is tunneled, my motives, oh so rageful
But the mirror I’m reading
Says “forgive, and then forgive again”

Though there’s a wrong
A grudge will tear us down
We wait too long, the air turns stale
Will we reconcile?
It’s all we’re needing… reconcile
It’s all we’re needing to mend these broken smiles

Oh miserable me, miserable you
The walls erected between us
You keep your side, I’ll not intrude

And we’ll get used to this denial
Turn our heads and wait a while
Much too long, the air turns stale
Will we reconcile?

Calmer of the Storm

When everything is wrong
The day has passed and nothing's done
And the whole world seems against me
When I'm rolling in my bed, there's a storm in my head
I'm afraid of sinking in despair.

Chorus
Teach me, Lord to have faith
In what you're bringing me will
Change my life and bring you glory

There on the storm I am learning to let go
Of the will that I so long to control
There may I be in your arms eternally
I thank you, Lord, you are the calmer of the storm.

You rebuke the wind and the waves
Once again I find I'm amazed & the power of your will
Cuz I'm a child of little faith
I feel the wind and forget your grace
And you say, "Peace, be still."

There on the storm I am learning to let go
The white wave's high, it's crashing o'er the deck
And I don't know where I go
Where are you Lord, is my ship going down?
The mast is gone so throw the anchor
Should I jump and try to swim to land?

There on the storm, teach me God to understand
Of the Will that I just cannot control
There may I see all you love protecting me
I thank you Lord, you are the calmer of the storm.

So Blue

Shallow capacity is bearing all I see, and I know
It’s disease, it’s loss, it’s death knocking at my door
I click these thoughts to something else, something more.

I’m so blue, you’re so blue.

Detached harmonies, all the airways scream dissonance
And we know of broken life, broken homes,
Broken hearts and broken bones,
Recycling the paper of a crying world’s suicide note and
We’re so blue, so blue. See the world spinning round
A sucking hole that souls go down
Embrace the sorrow of today because repentance finds a way
Only His blood can heal our wounds
Only His blood can heal our wounds
And if repentance finds a way, what’s left today to be… blue?
A final symphony,
The precipice too close, you’re scaring me - back away
Sin is real, it doesn’t feel, It always, only always, steals.
Run to the cross the only joy that’s real.

From Protest To Praise

I knew the times would come and now the times have landed
With stinging abrasion As ready as I seem to be
It’s never like I planned it, yeah

Pre-Chorus
I’m wrestling my thoughts I’m overcome
Would you give me up I’m asking Lord
There’s no where I sense Your presence here
So I will cry out, until I go

Chorus
From Protest to praise
You’re always amazing me
You’re changing me slow, but surely
And You’re gonna see me to the end

How long will I be forgotten by You forever
You’re not making sense here
Seems like eternity has made a home between us, yeah

Pre-Chorus/Chorus (2X)

You’re changing me slow
I just can’t help but see it that way
Cuz You’re gonna see me to the end

All The Reasons Why

Well we’re thrown out on a stage
To find our paths to yesterday
When the world was so much smaller
And we were free, free to be

Well we all moved to the big town
And we all put on the big sound
Truly what would we sing for
If it wasn’t for Your Grace

Chorus
And we sing ‘cause You are bigger
Than any reference we could make
And we dance until we’re tired
‘Cause we know Your name is great

On our journey give us Grace
As we follow lines Your hand will trace
You have called us to a crown
But for a time, to taste the ground
Give us edge by ones You love
Shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves
Songs will always find their endings
But Your story never dies, that’s why…

And we sing ‘cause you are bigger
Than any reference we should make
And we dance until we’re tired
‘Cause we know your name is great

And we sing ‘cause you are bigger
Than any reference we could make
And we dance until we’re tired
‘Cause we know your name is great

Great you Are

How I love You’re works
My God, My King
How I love You’re works
My God, My King

You’re Name rings on the plains
Like a not so distant train
And Love and history are near
In the flowers that you make
The flowers that you make

Chorus
Because I’ll never hold the picture
Of the whole horizon in my view
Because I’ll never rip the night in two
It makes me wonder
Who am I, Who am I, Who am I
And great are you

How I love You’re Word
My God, My King
How I love You’re Word
My God, My King

You’re love cuts through these pages to my heart
As you grieve our sins, right from the start
And sacrifice and paradise are in
The plans that you made, The plans that you made

Chorus (2x)

Free Me Up

I’m giving up my electro TV things
I don’t ever need, no… anything like that again
Cuz I wanna stay on the move and
I wanna drop these chains
Well you’d be surprised what you can leave behind
It keeps me looking upward

Chorus
You free me up to live this life far from any Earthly sense of home
There’s a place where I belong but there’s nothing here I really own
I really own

Do you deem this to be extreme behavior?
A little bit too ideal
You call it young man’s fever
But I’ve got my treasure stored beyond Heaven’s gates
And you’d be surprised what lies behind them
It keeps me looking upward

You free me up live this life far from any Earthly sense of home
There’s a place where I belong but there’s nothing here
But there’s nothing here, there’s nothing here
No there’s nothing here I really own
I really own

Bridge
All that you find here, you will lose it
All you find here, you will lose it
All you gain here on earth, you’ll lose in the end
All you gain here on earth, you will lose it. Lose it

Making Me

Well the poet is stuck in the mud
And the dreamer is finding his way home from the stars
And the visionary’s watching his feet
‘Cause the sentimental fool is numb again

Simple hand, simple eye, nothing to write home about
Yet the artist chisels at the stone
Curious, the child tugs the fingers of the bigger
He wants to see the face that is his own
He’s not alone

Lord Help me be the one You’re making me, yeah
Lord help me see the one You’re making me
The one You’re making me, the one You’re making me

Well we push it off and pull Him in
We fist His lips and we kick His shin
We post a sign, turn and throttle away
And barely listen to a single word He has to say.
By his eye a tendril fell
He cast a word, but not a spell
It’s all tied up… it’s all done
I was a cancer, but you have made me a son

Lord Help me be the one You’re making me, yeah
Lord help me see the one You’re making me
The one You’re making me, the one You’re making me

I feel the wild whims of the wicked as I wonder whether
Ashes burn twice or these thoughts be put under a fire
To be burned as I have tried to learn from the whisper of His will
While I am standing still
And the night fell fast, I crashed and blast my prayers like through a megaphone
Aimed all of my feelings at the ceiling
Cuz I want to know who I am
And if I really have a Home

Lord Help me be the one You’re making me, yeah
Lord help me see the one You’re making me
The one You’re making me, the one You’re making me